The 15th annual North Carolina Beach Buggy Association (NCBBA) Red Drum Tournament is set to take place from October 23 to October 26, 2024. Organizers have noted that the 500 spots available for this highly anticipated event are rapidly filling up.
According to an NCBBA update, “Registration is ahead of previous years to date, and if you want to enjoy the competition and 60 hours of open fishing, it would be wise to register now.”
Participants are required to register by Monday, September 23, in order to receive a tournament T-shirt. The NCBBA emphasized, “This is the latest we can order T-shirts and have them ready for the tournament. We may have some extra shirts for sale, but there is no guarantee of available sizes.”
Last year’s tournament saw a record participation of 455 anglers, who collectively caught and released 120 red drum.
The tournament offers expansive fishing grounds along the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, allowing anglers to fish from ORV Ramp 23 to Ramp 45, subject to accessibility.
Due to a King Tide and beach erosion, adjustments were made to the ramps used in the previous tournament, with the introduction of Ramp 45 proving popular. The NCBBA will retain this ramp for the upcoming event while hoping to have all previous ramps available as well.
Throughout the 60-hour fishing duration, anglers can fish at their discretion with no assigned stations, provided the area is accessible by vehicle from midnight on Wednesday to noon on Saturday.
Judges are still needed for the tournament, and anyone interested is encouraged to apply. Those who judge two 6-hour sessions will receive a refund of their entry fee and be eligible for a $1,000 cash prize in the “judges only” category, in addition to competing for a share of over $13,000 in prizes from 2023.
For inquiries about judging, contact Al Adam at al.adam@ncbba.org. For more details on the tournament and to register, visit the NCBBA website.